New member needs opinions on this chess board.

Hello , I'm new here. This is my first post.

Anyway this board caught my eye. I'm not even sure why. It was like " wow, that's beautiful." It's really not what I'm used to, since I play on a custom rig from HOS, with 2.5 inch squares and Wellington pieces ( Blood Rosewood and Boxwood from the chess store). I'll post some photos of that also at a later time.

This board is a green a white Onyx, 1.6 inch squares. It was purchased from an antique shop and is alleged to be somewhat old. I had never seen anything quite like it. It does not have any chess pieces, so I'll be looking for some nice pieces to go with it, if I keep it. Something about this board jumped out at me. I cannot explain it. It was kind of an impulse buy.

I'm curious to know what one might expect to pay for a board like this, or rather value? I ask becasue I have never seen an onyx board like this one. I'll tell you guys what I paid for it later. I'm pretty sure jaws will hit the floor when I do.

I'd also like opinions, Likes, dislikes, pretty, ugly, or what have you. I think it would make a great display piece for the chess guy who has everything. I also think its WOW pretty, but that's just my opinion. So I'm asking for yours.

What do you guys think? Here it is.

Chess boards like that are made today.  Without any markings or documentation it will be extremely hard to date when this board was made.  I am leaning towards it not being nearly as old as you think it is. 

Chess sets like this are sold as souvenirs in Mexico and some other countries.  They generally do no go for very much.  Consider this auction:

http://www.icollector.com/HAND-CARVED-MEXICAN-ONYX-CHESS-SET_i10561807

Your board looks a bit nicer, so I would say it will go for a little more, but not a lot.

Since you asked for all opinions, it's not really my cup of tea. I prefer classic inlaid wooden boards, but I'd say that, as long as you like it, just enjoy it for what it is and who cares what others think or how much it's worth.

The board is not that rare, and relatively cheap (at least relative to other non-vinyl/non-cardboard foldup chess boards ;)...).  You can get marble boards made a similar way but without the translucence of onyx (I got one in Athens in 1990).  You can find quartz boards that are even more translucent, and cheaper, if you like the translucence (though it will probably be pink and white squares ;)...).  

Also, the particular board in the photo would be worth more if you'd found one without the "browning" of the striations in the stone on the white squares.

Define "later".

To be honest I dont even own a chess board but i have to say, that one looks amazing. I think I might even go out and look for one like that. Maybe with brown and white squares. How much would one of those boards cost?

It looks nice to me but, I would have to see it in person before I would buy one.

It sucks. That's my opinion.

Now.

29.99

I think it was a fairly good deal. Of course I had to pay shipping. I don't count that against the price paid for the item though , considering it's 15 inchs square and an inch thick of onyx, heavy and shiping isn't free.

I've seen others similiar to it, but not quite. At that price point, I was compelled to buy. I think it will make a good display piece, and occasional games here and there too. Need to find some nice pieces for it though. Worse comes to worse, I don't think I'll have a problem getting my money back on it, if I decide to part with it.

Hello, It's nice to meet you and greet you. I did not come here to cause any trouble. But it seems you've been around here causing trouble for a while from the looks of some of your whiny posts, wondering why anyone would make certain remarks to you. Maybe now is a good time to realize why, one might think. So go ahead and report me, my first day here, because my little friend, I'm well versed in dealing with twits like you.

May peace come to your fellow countrymen, but not you.

As to the rest of you , thank you for your classy replies.

Am new to chess.com too, and deleted my (comment)when i wanted to edit only a word,, I thought i should re-type so you know it was a (sincere note). I'd been enjoying singularly, the puzzle of the day, & now, forums. Because you invited opinions, i had ventured to tell you, that when i looked at your photo of the chess board i instantaneously had a leveling! experience. It made me wonder what the folklore of green onyx was? ,,i know that sound ethereal, however it was interesting.. Green onyx promotes centering, equanimity, aids learning lessons, can take you forward to see the future, and helps one make wise decisions./(Good assistance for chess playing).. I had commented also, about how you must have felt the price was worth-while and now you posted a quite low price i think, for it. Things are of value when they may help you feel something meaningful. As only an onlooker, when i saw the photo of it, it was centering for me, and aesthetically, was beautiful. Best wishes to you,,

If you didn't want adverse opinions, you shouldn't have posted here seeking opinions "Likes, dislikes, pretty, ugly, or what have you". "It sucks" is an opinion. If Yanqui had posted "It rocks" instead, I suspect you wouldn't have looked up his/her posting history or replied to him/her. It was a valid comment, so why get annoyed when you invited all comments?

bs thread.

umm. "Hey guys". "I am new here!".

Have headed straight to the chess.com forums to post banal nonsense.

Not interested in chess one bit only social-networking!!

BreedingSeason 

•  Member Since: Jul 31, 2014
• 

Welcome to the forum, but I can see where this thead is going, so may the best man win...

Yes I understand. Do you undrstand that there is a right and wrong way to express your opinion? Have you ever heard of, " being a gentleman?

Do you know what that means? Of course no one really has to do anything. It's a matter of personal etiquette and of course we all know that some people never had the opportuntity to " know better." They were too busy making an ass of themselves, or caring about what they think, and looking for sympathy, and cant do anything without someone to spoon feed them. You know, your usual gutter trash, for lack of a better term. Now I know this sounds harsh and I'm not really trying to ruffle anyones feathers, but you guys seem like a tough crowd, on the Internet. No one messes with one of yours. Right? So I expect you to EAT 10 fold what you dish out. And don't be a crybaby about it.

In other words I don't need your sorry ass explaining things to me. Mind ur own business and read between the lines and learn something.

Next up, your buddy who posted shortly after you. You guys wanna play nitpick the noob? Forum fight? I'm in. Lets do it. Don't go running and crying to the admins like you're innocent. WAAAAA.

BS thread? Why'd you read it smart guy? Additionally, why'd you reply to it genius? What do you know about me to this point? Nothing? Other than I won't take your crap without dishing it right back in your funny looking face? What else do you know about me that you can state , factually? Oh that's right. Nothing.

So now that we know each other a little better, " what makes you think I have no interest in the game of kings? I mean did you just pluck that from thin air and run with it? Simply Brilliant! Based on what? Well lets see now. Based on I just purchaed another chess board? Based on , I'm looking for nice pieces to go with it? Was that photo really necessary? I mean is that what you do during your little episodes of " social networking?" You try to use images to demoralize? It's not working. You know why?

Because you don't know anything about me, and I don't know anything about you. Now shut your hole. You're just so, not impressive.

This I know:

•  Member Since: Jul 31, 2014

You really should get out more. Ever had a date?

Yeah I know. I figured he was so intensely brilliant that he might have an answer for at least one question. So I asked 13 more questions just in case he got stumped with the first.

So much for Brilliancy.